Color barcode producing method and apparatus, color barcode reading method and apparatus and color barcode reproducing method and apparatus

ABSTRACT

A color barcode can record much more amount of information than black white barcode. However, the problem of the color barcode is that it is easy to lose integrity or authenticity in printing and copy generation. This invention provides an apparatus and a method to keep the integrity or authenticity of the color barcode. Such is accomplished by the color reference portion of the color barcode including reference color tiles filled with colors which are used in a data portion of the color barcode and an apparatus and a method for producing, reproducing and reading such color barcode.

This is a divisional application of application Ser. No. 10/913,347,filed Aug. 9, 2004 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,533,817, which is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a color barcode producing method andapparatus, a color barcode reading method and apparatus and a colorbarcode reproducing method and apparatus.

A black and white barcode is very widely used for recording digitalinformation which is readable by an apparatus in a small space on aprinted matter. However, such black and white barcode has some problems.One of the problems is that it is difficult to record informationincluding large data such as a long document or a picture.

Recently, to solve such problem, a color barcode using several colors isdeveloped. The color barcode can record much more information than theblack and white barcode because while the black and white barcoderecords information by binary recording, the color barcode using severalcolors can record information by multivalued recording.

However, even if user uses the color barcode, there are some problemsyet. One of the problems is that the color barcode is easy to loss itsintegrity and authenticity in printing and copy generation due to i)different color management system of different apparatus, ii) differentprinter, iii) unstable color characteristic of printer itself, iv)scanner precision, v) degradation of color on a printed matter with timeand vi) degradation in copy generation, and so on.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

With a background stated above, an object of the invention is to providea method or an apparatus which is able to maintain integrity andauthenticity of the color barcode in printing and copy generation.

In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of thepresent invention, a method for producing a color barcode comprises aproducing step which produces a color reference portion. The colorreference portion is a part of the color barcode and including referencecolor tiles filled with colors which are used in a data portion of thecolor barcode. The method for producing the color barcode furthercomprises an encrypting step which encrypts data and a producing stepwhich produces the data portion according to the result of theencrypting step of the data. The data portion is a part of the colorbarcode, includes the several color tiles in which colors filling in thecolor reference tiles of the color reference portion are assigned andrepresents the data. Further, the method for producing the color barcodecomprises a printing step which prints the color barcode including thecolor reference portion and the data portion with the colors accordingto the results of the producing step of the color reference portion andthe producing step of the data portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view of a color barcode as one of embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a color barcode producing apparatus as oneof embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a color barcode reproducing apparatus asone of embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a color barcode reading apparatus as one ofembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the following, the detailed description and some of the embodimentsof this invention will be explained, referring to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, a color barcode 1 comprises a color referenceportion 2 including several reference color tiles 21 and a data portion3 including several color tiles 31.

The data portion 3 is a part of the color barcode 1, includes theseveral color tiles 31 and represents a data. Several color tiles 31include several colors. The colors filling in the color reference tiles21 of the color reference portion 2 are assigned to the color tiles 31.Although the colors assigned to the color tiles 31 include colors otherthan black, white and gray, the colors assigned to the color tiles 31also may include black, white or gray. The shape of the color tile isnot limited and may be square, circle, line and so on. All of the shapeof the color tile may be the same. Or, color tiles of different shapemay be included in one data portion.

The data portion 3 may record information about contents of a certaindocument or contents of a certain picture in which the color barcode isaffixed. Because the data portion 3 uses several colored color tiles 31for recording information, the data portion 3 records information bymultivalued recording, not by binary recording, and can record largevolume data in small space. Any number of colors may be assigned to thecolor tiles. Number of colors used as the color tiles may be multiplierof two. Also, number of colors used as the color tiles may less than100.

The data portion 3 may be two-dimensional barcode using several colortiles 31. QR Code™, PDF417, Data Matrix™, Maxi Code and so on can beused as two-dimensional barcode.

The data portion 3 is produced based on a result of an encryption of thedata. For example, the content of document or picture to be affixed bythe color barcode is encrypted as data. In the case, if someone amendsthe document or picture, the fact that the document of picture wasamended can be detected by comparing the encrypted data in the dataportion of the color barcode with the amended content of document orpicture.

To read the data of data portion 3, the color barcode 1 on the documentis scanned by a color barcode reader including decryption program, thedata of the data portion 3 is decrypted and the data recorded in thedata portion 3 can be obtained.

The color reference portion 2 is a part of the color barcode 1 andincludes several reference color tiles 21. The reference color tiles 21is filled with colors which are used in the color tiles 31 of the dataportion 3. Number of the reference color tiles 21 in the color referenceportion 2 may be decided depending on the number of colors which can beused in the color tiles 31 of the data portion 3. For example, if sixcolors (red, orange, blue, green, yellow and pink) are used for thecolor tiles 31 of the data portion 3, six reference color tiles 21filled with each color (red, orange, blue, green, yellow and pink) maybe included in the color reference portion 2. The color referenceportion 2 may include the reference color tiles 21 of all colors whichcan be used in the color tiles 31 of the data portion 3.

The color reference portion 2 may be a header of the color barcode 1.Or, the color reference portion 2 may be a footer or other part of thecolor barcode 1.

The shape of the reference color tile 21 is not limited and may besquare, circle, line and so on. All of the shape of the reference colortiles may be the same. Or, reference color tiles of different shape maybe included in one color reference portion.

As shown in FIG. 1, the color reference portion may be located near thedata portion. In this specification, the term “near” means “same as orless than 1 cm”. That is, the distance between the color referenceportion and the data portion may be same as or less than 1 cm.Alternatively, the color reference portion may be far from the dataportion. In this specification, the term “far” means “more than 1 cm orin other page”. In other words, the distance between the color referenceportion and the data portion may be more than 1 cm. Further, in the casethat number of pages of one document is not less than two, the colorreference portion may be located on the page which is different page onwhich the data portion is located. The color reference portion may belocated on only one page of the document and the data portion may belocated on the several pages of the document. Several identical colorreference portions may be located at several places of one page ofdocument, picture, paper and so on (e.g. four corners of 1 page of adocument or top and bottom of 1 page of a document and the like).

The data portion or other portion of the color barcode located near thedata portion may include information about where the color referenceportion is or how the color reference portion is used. The portion ofthe data portion or the other portion including the information aboutwhere the color reference portion is or how the color reference portionis used may be black and white or grayscale barcode. The portion of thedata portion or the other portion including the information about wherethe color reference portion is or how the color reference portion isused may be colored bar code.

The substrate on which the color barcode is printed may be paper,plastic sheet, metal sheet and so on.

Example 1-1

Next, one example of an apparatus for producing the color barcode willbe explained as follows.

A color barcode producing apparatus comprises a color reference portionproducing device, a data portion producing device and a printing device.

As such color barcode producing apparatus, a color printer, such as alaser beam color printer, a thermal color printer such as a sublimationcolor printer or an ink jet color printer, or a color multi functionprinter including copying function may be used. In such embodiments, allof the color reference portion producing device, a data portionproducing device and a printing device are contained in one unit.

On the other hand, as such color barcode producing apparatus, a systemincluding several units connected with each other with or without wire,such as a system including a personal computer and a color printer whichare apart and are connected with each other, may be used. The colorprinter may be a laser beam color printer, a thermal color printer suchas a sublimation color printer or an ink jet color printer, or a colormulti function printer including copying function.

Next, each element of the color barcode producing apparatus is explainedas follows.

The color reference portion producing device of the color barcodeproducing apparatus produces the color reference portion of the colorbarcode. As the color reference portion producing device, in the casethat the color barcode producing apparatus is a color printer or a colormultifunction printer, an IC (integrated circuit) or a CPU (centralprocessing unit) may be comprised, if necessary in combination with asoftware. As the color reference portion producing device, in the casethat the color barcode producing apparatus is a system including acomputer and a color printer or a color multifunction printer apart, anIC or a CPU of the computer may be comprised, if necessary incombination with a software.

The data portion producing device of the color barcode producingapparatus encrypts data which will be recorded into the color barcodeand produces the data portion according to the result of the colorreference portion producing device and the result of the encryption ofthe data. As the data portion producing device, in the case that thecolor barcode producing apparatus is a color printer or a colormultifunction printer, an IC or a CPU of the color printer or the colormultifunction printer may be comprised, if necessary in combination witha software. As the data portion producing device, in the case that thecolor barcode producing apparatus is a system including a computer and acolor printer apart or a color multifunction printer, an IC or a CPU ofthe computer may be comprised, if necessary in combination with asoftware.

The printing device of the color barcode producing apparatus prints thecolor barcode including the color reference portion and the data portionaccording to the results of the producing step of the color referenceportion producing device and the producing step of the data portionproducing device. As the printing device, in the case that the colorbarcode producing apparatus is a color printer or a color multifunctionprinter, a printing portion of the color printer or the colormultifunction printer may be comprised. As the printing device, in thecase that the color barcode producing apparatus is a system including acomputer and a color printer or a color multifunction printer apart, thecolor printer or the color multifunction printer may be comprised.

The color barcode producing apparatus may further comprise a scanningdevice. The scanning device scans the document or picture to be affixedwith the color barcode. And the data portion producing device producesthe data portion based on the data scanned by the scanning device. Asthe scanning device, in the case that the color barcode producingapparatus is a color multifunction printer, a scanning portion of thecolor multifunction printer may be comprised. As the scanning device, inthe case that the color barcode producing apparatus is a systemincluding a computer, a flat bed scanner and a color printer apart, theflat bed scanner may be comprised.

The color barcode producing apparatus may further comprise a decidingdevice. The deciding device decides colors used for the color referenceportion. As the deciding device, in the case that the color barcodeproducing apparatus is a color printer or a color multifunction printer,an IC or a CPU of the color printer or the color multifunction printermay be comprised, if necessary in combination with a software. As thedeciding device, in the case that the color barcode producing apparatusis a system including a computer and a color printer apart, an IC or aCPU of the computer may be comprised, if necessary in combination with asoftware.

The deciding device may decide the number of the colors used for thecolor reference portion at random. Or, the deciding device may decidethe number of the colors used for the color reference portion dependingon the volume of data which is to be converted to data portion. That is,if the volume of data is large, the number of colors assigned to colortiles is many. On the contrary, if the volume of data is small, thenumber of colors may be a few. Or, the number of colors may be alwaysfixed.

After the deciding device decides the number of the colors used for thecolor reference portion, the deciding device may decide the colors usedfor the color reference portion. The deciding device may decide thecolors used for the color reference portion at random according to thedecided number of colors. Or, the deciding device may decide the colorsused for the color reference portion as follows.

The data of the document on which the color barcode is affixed, whichmay be the digital data being a base of the data portion, is analyzed.Then, the shade or tone of colors of the data of the document isdecided, and the colors used for the color reference portion are decidedby the deciding device so as that the colors used for the colorreference portion are harmonious with the colors of the documentaffixing the color barcode.

Using the color barcode producing apparatus of this example, the colorbarcode is produced as follows.

A method for producing a color barcode comprises a color referenceportion producing step which produces a color reference portion, anencrypting step which encrypts data, a data portion producing step whichproduces the data portion according to the result of the encrypting stepof the data, and a printing step which prints the color barcodeincluding the color reference portion and the data portion with thecolors according to the results of the color reference portion producingstep and the data portion producing step. Further, the method forproducing the color barcode of this example further comprises a decidingstep which decides colors used for the color reference portion beforethe color reference portion producing step.

In the following, the detailed description of one of examples of theabove method will be explained, referring to FIG. 2.

In FIG. 2, a color printer 4 is shown as the color barcode producingapparatus for the above method. In this embodiment, a computer 8 isconnected with the color printer 4. The computer 8 is connected with aflat bed image scanner 9. That is, the color barcode producing apparatusof this example does not comprise the scanning device.

At first, a document or a picture including information which is to berecorded in the data portion of the color barcode is scanned by the flatbed image scanner 9 and is changed into a digital data which is a baseof the data portion 3 of the color barcode 1. Alternatively, to get adigital data which is a base of the data portion 3, some digital data,such as a data recorded in CD-ROM, DVD-ROM or a hard disk or a digitaldata sent via a network, may be read by the computer 8.

Next, colors filling in the reference color tiles 21 of the colorreference portion 2 are decided. That is, colors to be assigned to thecolor tiles 31 of the data portion 3 are decided. In this example,number of colors filling in the reference color tiles 21 is always fixedas six. To decide the colors, the data of the document, which may be thedigital data being a base of the data portion, is analyzed by thecomputer 8 or the CPU 5 of the color printer 4. Then, the shade or toneof colors of the data of the document is decided by the computer 8 orthe CPU 5 of the color printer 4, and the colors to fill in thereference color tiles 21 and to be assigned to the color tiles 31 aredecided by the computer 8 or the CPU 5 of the color printer 4, which isthe deciding device, so as that the colors to fill in the referencecolor tiles 21 and to be assigned to the color tiles 31 are harmoniouswith the colors of the document affixing the color barcode. The colormay be decided by deciding the defined color value such as Pantone™color, LAB value (La*b* value or Lab value), HSV and so on. Pantone™color is color of definition defined by Pantone, Inc as of July, 2004.

In this example, six colors (red (Pantone™ 485C), orange (Pantone™715C), blue (Pantone™ 285C), green (Pantone™ 340C), yellow (Pantone™102C) and pink (Pantone™ 672C)) are decided by the procedure stated asabove. Therefore, it is decided that the color reference portionincludes six reference color tiles 21 of red, orange, blue, green,yellow and pink.

Then, the color reference portion 2 of the color barcode 1 is producedby the CPU 5 as the color reference portion producing device accordingto the result of the decision of the colors filling in the referencecolor tiles 2. CPU 5 may produce the color reference portion by decidingthe position, size and/or shape of each reference color tiles 21 andassigning the decided color. In this example, the color referenceportion 2 is located as a header of the color barcode 1 and includes sixreference color tiles 21 of which shape is same size square.

Also, the digital data of the document which is a base of the dataportion 3 is encrypted by the CPU 5 as the data portion producingdevice. To encrypt, DES or RC4 etc. encryption method may be used.

Then, the data portion 3 of the color barcode 1 is produced by the CPU 5as the data portion producing device according to the decision of colorsto fill in the reference color tiles. The data portion 3 is asecond-dimensional color barcode comprising six kind of colors (red(Pantone™ 485C), orange (Pantone™ 715C), blue (Pantone™ 285C), green(Pantone™ 340C), yellow (Pantone™ 102C) and pink (Pantone™ 672C)) ofcolor tiles 31. To produce the data portion, a software for producingbarcode may be used. The color reference portion and the data portionmay be produced separately and be combined later to produce the colorbarcode comprising the data portion and the color reference portion.

The encrypting step and the data portion producing step may be donebefore, after or at the same time with the color reference portionproducing step.

In the case that the data portion is located far from the colorreference portion, CPU 5 as the data portion producing device mayproduce the data portion so that the data portion includes theinformation where the color reference portion is or how the colorreference portion is used.

By producing the color reference portion and the data portion, the colorbarcode is produced.

After that, the color barcode 1 including the color reference portion 2and the data portion 3 is printed on the paper by a printing portion 6,which is the printing device, of the color printer 4 with the colorsaccording to the result of the color reference portion producing stepand the result of the data portion producing step. That is to say, thecolor barcode 1 is printed so as that the color of the data portionincludes six colors (red (Pantone™ 485C), orange (Pantone™ 715C), blue(Pantone™ 285C), green (Pantone™ 340C), yellow (Pantone™ 102C) and pink(Pantone™ 672C)) and the color reference portion includes six referencecolor tiles (red (Pantone™ 485C), orange (Pantone™ 715C), blue (Pantone™285C), green (Pantone™ 340C), yellow (Pantone™ 102C) and pink (Pantone™672C)). If the colors are decided by the defined color value as thisexample, the color barcode is printed according the decided definedcolor value. By doing such, the color barcode as shown in FIG. 1 isproduced on the paper.

The color barcode may be affixed not only to the paper, but also to thedigital data of the document or the picture as the digital data of thecolor barcode.

Example 1-2

Next, the other example of an apparatus for producing the color barcodewill be explained as follows.

The color barcode producing apparatus of this example is almost similarwith the color barcode producing apparatus of Example 1-1. Thedescription about what is similar to the Example 1-1 is omitted.

The color barcode producing apparatus of this example further comprisesa storing device. The storing device stores date of the color referenceportion. As the storing device, in the case that the color barcodeproducing apparatus is a color printer or a color multifunction printer,a memory or a hard disk of the color printer or the color multifunctionprinter may be comprised. As the storing device, in the case that thecolor barcode producing apparatus is a system including a computer and acolor printer apart, a memory or a hard disk of the computer or thecolor printer, or an external and/or a removable information storingdevice, such as a CD and/or DVD-ROM and the reproducing device for themof the computer or the color printer may be comprised.

The data of color reference portion stored in the storing deviceincludes information about what colors are used for the reference colortiles or data of the reference color tiles themselves.

The storing device may store only one combination pattern of colorswhich are assigned to the reference color tiles or reference color tilesthemselves. On the other hand, the storing device may store severalcombination patterns of colors which are assigned to the reference colortiles or reference color tiles themselves.

In the case that the storing device stores several combination patterns,an user may be able to choose the color used for the reference colortiles by selecting the data among the several combination patterns.

Therefore, the color barcode producing apparatus may comprise aselecting device in order to choose the data of the reference color tileamong the several data stored in the storing device, such as an inputbutton of the color printer or a keyboard of the computer.

Or, in order to choose the colors of the reference color tilesautomatically, the color barcode producing apparatus may furthercomprise the deciding device. At first, the deciding device may decidethe number of the colors used for the color reference portion at random.Or, the deciding device may decide the number of the colors used for thecolor reference portion depending on the volume of data which is to beconverted to data portion. That is, if the volume of data is large, thenumber of colors assigned to reference color tiles is many. On thecontrary, if the volume of data is small, the number of colors may be afew. Or, the number of colors may be always fixed.

After the deciding device decides the number of the colors used for thecolor reference portion, the deciding device may decide the colors usedfor the color reference portion among the data of the colors or thereference color tiles stored in the storing device. The deciding devicemay decide the colors used for the color reference portion by selectingat random according to the decided number of colors and the data storedin the storing device. Or, the deciding device may decide the colorsused for the color reference portion as follows.

The data of the document on which the color barcode is affixed, whichmay be the digital data being a base of the data portion, is analyzed.Then, the shade or tone of colors of the data of the document isdecided, and the colors used for the color reference portion are decidedby the deciding device among the data of the colors or the referencecolor tiles stored in the storing device so as that the colors used forthe color reference portion are the most harmonious with the colors ofthe document affixing the color barcode.

Regarding the color reference portion producing device and the dataportion producing device, it is similar to that of the Example 1-1except that the color reference portion producing device and the dataportion producing device may produce the color reference portion and thedata portion according to the data stored in the storing device.

Regarding the printing device, it is similar to that of the Example 1-1except that the printing device may print the color barcode according tothe data stored in the storing device.

Using the color barcode producing apparatus of this example, the colorbarcode is produced as follows.

A method for producing a color barcode comprises a color referenceportion producing step which produces a color reference portion, anencrypting step which encrypts data, a data portion producing step whichproduces the data portion according to the result of the encrypting stepof the data, and a printing step which prints the color barcodeincluding the color reference portion and the data portion with thecolors according to the results of the color reference portion producingstep and the data portion producing step.

Further, the method for producing the color barcode of this examplefurther comprises a storing step which stores data of the colorreference portion beforehand. In the color reference portion producingstep, the color reference portion is produced on the basis of the dataof the color reference portion stored.

In the following, the detailed description of one of examples of theabove method will be explained, referring to FIG. 2.

In FIG. 2, a color printer 4 is shown as the color barcode producingapparatus for the above method. In this embodiment, a computer 8 isconnected with the color printer 4. The computer 8 is connecter with aflat bed image scanner 9. That is, the color barcode producing apparatusof this example does not comprise the scanning device.

At first, a document or a picture including information which is to berecorded in the data portion of the color barcode is scanned by the flatbed image scanner 9 and is changed into a digital data which is a baseof the data portion 3 of the color barcode 1. Alternatively, to get adigital data which is a base of the data portion 3, some digital data,such as a data recorded in CD-ROM, DVD-ROM or a hard disk or a digitaldata sent via a network, may be reproduced by the computer 8.

Next, in the case that a memory 7 as the storing device stores severaldata of color reference portion, colors to be assigned to the referencecolor tiles 21 are decided among the several data. To select the data,the data of the document, which may be the digital data being a base ofthe data portion, is analyzed by the computer 8 or the CPU 5 of thecolor printer 4. Then, the shade or tone of colors of the data of thedocument is decided by the computer 8 or the CPU 5 of the color printer4, and one of the data representing a combination pattern of colors ofreference color tiles is selected among the several data stored in thememory 7 by the CPU 5 as the deciding device so as that the colors ofthe reference color tiles are the most harmonious with the colors of thedocument affixing the color barcode among the data stored in the memory7.

Or, as the other way, user can choose the color combination pattern asthe data of the reference color tiles among several data by an inputbutton (not disclosed in FIG. 2) of the color printer 4 as the selectingdevice.

In the case that the memory 7 as the storing device stores only onecolor combination pattern as the data of the color reference portion,the process described in the previous two paragraphs are omitted.

By selecting the colors of the reference color tiles, the colorsassigned to the color tiles 31 are decided. In this example, number ofcolors is always fixed as six and six colors (red (Pantone™ 485C),orange (Pantone™ 715C), blue (Pantone™ 285C), green (Pantone™ 340C),yellow (Pantone™ 102C) and pink (Pantone™ 672C)) are selected by theprocedure stated as above. Therefore, it is decided that the colorreference portion includes six reference color tiles 21 of red, orange,blue, green, yellow and pink.

Then, the color reference portion 2 of the color barcode 1 is producedby the CPU 5 as the color reference portion producing device accordingto the result of the selection of the colors filling in the referencecolor tiles 21 among the data stored in the memory 7. CPU 5 may producethe color reference portion by deciding the position, size and/or shapeof each reference color tiles 21 and assigning the selected color. Inthis example, the color reference portion 2 is located as a header ofthe color barcode 1 and includes six reference color tiles 21 of whichshape is same size square.

Also, the digital data of the document which is a base of the dataportion 3 is encrypted by the CPU 5 as the data portion producingdevice. To encrypt, DES or RC4 etc. encryption method may be used.

Then, the data portion 3 of the color barcode 1 is produced by the CPU 5as the data portion producing device according to the selection ofcolors to fill in the reference color tiles. The data portion 3 is asecond-dimensional color barcode comprising six kind of colors (red(Pantone™ 485C), orange (Pantone™ 715C), blue (Pantone™ 285C), green(Pantone™ 340C), yellow (Pantone™ 102C) and pink (Pantone™ 672C)) ofcolor tiles 31. To produce the data portion, a software for producingbarcode may be used. The color reference portion and the data portionmay be produced separately and be combined later to produce the colorbarcode comprising the data portion and the color reference portion.

In the case that the data portion is located far from the colorreference portion, CPU 5 as the data portion producing device mayproduce the data portion so that the data portion includes theinformation where the color reference portion is or how the colorreference portion is used.

The encrypting step and the data portion producing step may be donebefore, after or at the same time with the color reference portionproducing step.

By producing the color reference portion and the data portion, the colorbarcode is produced.

After that, the color barcode 1 including the color reference portion 2and the data portion 3 is printed on the paper by a printing portion 6,which is the printing device, of the color printer 4 with the colorsaccording to the result of the color reference portion producing stepand the result of the data portion producing step. That is to say, thecolor barcode 1 is printed so as that the color of the data portionincludes six colors (red (Pantone™ 485C), orange (Pantone™ 715C), blue(Pantone™ 285C), green (Pantone™ 340C), yellow (Pantone™ 102C) and pink(Pantone™ 672C)) and the color reference portion includes six referencecolor tiles (red (Pantone™ 485C), orange (Pantone™ 715C), blue (Pantone™285C), green (Pantone™ 340C), yellow (Pantone™ 102C) and pink (Pantone™672C)). If the colors are decided by the defined color value as thisexample, the color barcode is printed according the decided definedcolor value. By doing such, the color barcode as shown in FIG. 1 isproduced on the paper.

The color barcode may be affixed not only to the paper, but also to thedigital data of the document or the picture as the digital data of thecolor barcode.

Example 2-1

In the examples 1-1 and 1-2, the examples of the apparatus and method ofproducing the color barcode are explained. In the following, the exampleof an apparatus and a method for reproducing the color barcode will beexplained.

A color barcode reproducing apparatus comprises a reference colorinformation storing device, a scanning device, a relating device and aprinting device.

As such color barcode reproducing apparatus, a color copying machine ora color multi function printer including copying function may be used.In such embodiment, all of the reference color information storingdevice, the scanning device, the relating device and the printing deviceare contained in one unit.

On the other hand, as such color barcode reproducing apparatus, a systemincluding several units connected with each other with or without wire,such as a system including a personal computer, an image scanner and acolor printer which are apart and are connected with each other, may beused. The color printer may be a laser beam color printer, a thermalcolor printer such as a sublimation color printer or an ink jet colorprinter, or a color multi function printer including copying function.

Next, each element of the color barcode reproducing apparatus isexplained as follows.

The scanning device scans the color reference portion of the colorbarcode and the data portion of the color barcode. As the scanningdevice, in the case that the color barcode reproducing apparatus is thecolor copying machine or the color multi function printer, a scanningportion of the color copying machine or the multi function color printermay be comprised. As the scanning device, in the case that the colorbarcode reproducing apparatus is a system including a computer, an imagescanner and a color printer apart, an image scanner such as a flat bedscanner may be comprised.

The reference color information storing device stores a reference colorinformation beforehand.

The reference color information includes information about what colorsshould be filled in reference color tiles of the color referenceportion. The information about what colors should be filled in referencecolor tiles may be expressed with defined color value, such as Pantone™color, LAB value (La*b* value or Lab value), HSV and so on.

In this example, the reference color information includes informationabout where each of the reference color tiles should be located and whatcolor should be filled in each of the reference color tiles. Forexample, the reference color information includes information, which sixreference color tiles are aligned at 5 mm above the data portion atright down of the document and the color of leftmost reference colortile is red (Pantone™ 485C), the color of next right reference colortile is orange (Pantone™ 715C), the color of next right reference colortile is blue (Pantone™ 285C), the color of next right reference colortile is green (Pantone™ 340C), the color of next right reference colortile is yellow (Pantone™ 102C) and the color of rightmost referencecolor tile is pink (Pantone™ 672C).

As the reference color information storing device, in the case that thecolor barcode reproducing apparatus is a color copying machine or acolor multifunction printer, a memory or a hard disk or an externaland/or a removable information storing device, such as a CD and/orDVD-ROM and the reproducing device for them of the color copying machineor the color multifunction printer may be comprised. As the referencecolor information storing device, in the case that the color barcodereproducing apparatus is a system including a computer and an imagescanner and a color printer apart, a memory, a hard disk of the computeror the color printer, or an external and/or a removable informationstoring device, such as a CD and/or DVD-ROM and the reproducing devicefor them of the computer or the color printer may be comprised.

The relating device relates each color of the reference colorinformation stored in the reference color information storing device toeach color of the reference color tile of the color reference portionscanned by the scanning device. As the relating device, in the case thatthe color barcode reproducing apparatus is the color copying machine orthe color multi function printer, an IC or a CPU of the color copyingmachine or the color multi function printer may be comprised, ifnecessary in combination with a software. As the relating device, in thecase that the color barcode reproducing apparatus is a system includinga computer, an image scanner and a color printer apart, an IC or a CPUof the computer or the image scanner may be comprised, if necessary incombination with a software.

The printing device prints the color barcode including the colorreference portion and the data portion with the color according to theresult of the scanning device and the relating device. As the printingdevice, in the case that the color barcode reproducing apparatus is thecolor copying machine or the color multi function printer, a printingportion of the color copying machine or the multi function color printermay be comprised. As the printing device, in the case that the colorbarcode reproducing apparatus is a system including a computer, an imagescanner and a color printer apart, the color printer may be comprised.

The color barcode reproducing apparatus may further comprises theretrieving device. The retrieving device retrieves the information ofthe color barcode by decrypting the data obtained from the data portionof the color barcode. As the retrieving device, in the case that thecolor barcode reproducing apparatus is the color copying machine or thecolor multi function printer, an IC or a CPU of the color copyingmachine or the color multi function printer may be comprised, ifnecessary in combination with a software. As the retrieving device, inthe case that the color barcode reproducing apparatus is a systemincluding a computer, an image scanner and a color printer apart, an ICor a CPU of the computer or the image scanner may be comprised, ifnecessary in combination with a software

The color barcode reproducing apparatus may further comprise a colorbarcode data storing device which stores a data of the color barcodescanned by the scanning device, a data obtained from a result of therelating step by the relating device or a data obtained from a result ofthe retrieving step of the retrieving device. As the color barcode datastoring device, in the case that the color barcode reproducing apparatusis the color copying machine or the color multi function printer, amemory of the color copying machine or the multi function color printermay be comprised. As the color barcode data storing device, in the casethat the color barcode reproducing apparatus is a system including acomputer, an image scanner and a color printer apart, a memory of thecomputer or the color printer, a hard disk of the computer, or aexternal and/or a removable information storing device, such as a CDand/or DVD-ROM and the reproducing device for them of the computer maybe comprised.

Using the color barcode reproducing apparatus of this example, the colorbarcode is reproduced as follows.

A method for reproducing a color barcode comprises a storing step whichstores the reference color information, a scanning step which scans thecolor reference portion including the reference color tiles, a relatingstep which relates each color of the reference color information storedto each color of the reference color tile of the scanned color referenceportion, a scanning step which scans the data portion and a printingstep which prints the color barcode including the color referenceportion and the data portion with the colors according to the results ofthe relating step and the scanning step of the color reference portionand the data portion.

In this example, the reference color information includes informationabout where each of the reference color tiles should be located and whatcolor should be filled in each of the reference color tiles. In therelating step, each color of the reference color information stored isrelated to each color of the reference color tile of the scanned colorreference portion on the basis of the information about where each ofthe reference color tiles should be located and what color should befilled in each of the reference color tiles.

In the following, the detailed description of one of examples of theabove method will be explained, referring to FIG. 3.

In FIG. 3, a color multifunction printer 10 including copying functionis shown as the color barcode reproducing apparatus for the abovemethod.

In advance, the reference color information is stored in a memory 15 asthe reference color information storing device. In this example, thereference color information includes information, which six referencecolor tiles are aligned at 5 mm above the data portion at right down ofthe document and the color of leftmost reference color tile is red(Pantone™ 485C), the color of next right reference color tile is orange(Pantone™ 715C), the color of next right reference color tile is blue(Pantone™ 285C), the color of next right reference color tile is green(Pantone™ 340C), the color of next right reference color tile is yellow(Pantone™ 102C) and the color of rightmost reference color tile is pink(Pantone™ 672C).

A paper, a sheet, a document or a book etc. affixing the color barcode 1comprising the color reference portion 2 comprising six reference colortiles 21 and the data portion 3 comprising several color tiles 31 isscanned by the scanning portion 12, which is the scanning device, of thecolor multifunction printer 10 and the color barcode is changed into adigital data. Alternatively, to get a digital data of the color barcode,some digital data, such as a data recorded in CD-ROM, DVD-ROM or a harddisk or a digital data sent via a network, may be read by a computer(not disclosed in FIG. 3) connected with the color multifunction printer10 and sent from the computer to the multifunction printer 10. As statedin the above, usually the color information portion scanning step andthe data portion scanning step is done simultaneously.

Next, in the relating step, data of each of the reference color tile 21is extracted from the data of the scanned document and each color usedin the reference color tiles 21 is retrieved and analyzed. For example,as a result of analyzing scanned reference color tiles 21 by CPU 11, itis recognized that the color of leftmost scanned reference color tile isred (Pantone™ 485C), the color of next right scanned reference colortile is purple (Pantone™ 512C), the color of next right scannedreference color tile is blue (Pantone™ 2925C), the color of next rightscanned reference color tile is green (Pantone™ 340C), the color of nextright scanned reference color tile is yellow (Pantone™ 102C) and thecolor of rightmost scanned reference color tile is pink (Pantone™ 672C).

Each color of the reference color information stored is related by CPU11 as the relating device to each color of the reference color tile 21of the scanned color reference portion 2 on the basis of the informationabout where each of the reference color tiles should be located and whatcolor should be filled in each of the reference color tiles.

The color of the reference color information stored in the memory 15 forthe leftmost reference color tile is red (Pantone™ 485C). And the colorof the scanned leftmost reference color tile is red (Pantone™ 485C).Therefore, the red (Pantone™ 485C) of the reference color information isrelated to the red (Pantone™ 485C) of the scanned reference color tileby CPU 11. Next, The color of the reference color information stored inthe memory 15 for the next right reference color tile is orange(Pantone™ 715C). And the color of the scanned next right reference colortile is purple (Pantone™ 512C). Therefore, the orange (Pantone™ 715C) ofthe reference color information is related to the purple (Pantone™ 512C)of the scanned reference color tile by CPU 11 even though the orange andthe purple are different colors. As stated the above, the relating stepis repeated. The result of the relating step of this example is asdescribed in Table 1. The result of the relating step is recorded in thememory 15.

TABLE 1 Location of the The color of the The color of the referencecolor reference color scanned reference No. tile information color tile1 Leftmost red (Pantone ™ 485C) red (Pantone ™ 485C) 2 Next right to 1orange (Pantone ™ 485C) purple (Pantone ™ 512C) 3 Next right to 2 blue(Pantone ™ 285C) blue (Pantone ™ 2925C) 4 Next right to 3 green(Pantone ™ 340C) green (Pantone ™ 340C) 5 Next right to 4 yellow(Pantone ™ 102C) yellow (Pantone ™ 102C) 6 Rightmost pink (Pantone ™672C) pink (Pantone ™ 672C)

As a result of the relating step, each color of the scanned referencecolor tiles is recognized by CPU 11 as each color of the reference colorinformation stored in the memory 15. That is to say, purple (Pantone™512C) of the scanned reference color tile is recognized as orange(Pantone™ 485C). Blue (Pantone™ 2925C) of the scanned reference colortile is recognized as blue (Pantone™ 285C).

The color of the color tiles of the data portion is recognized on thebasis of the result of the relating step. That is to say, scanned purple(Pantone™ 512C) color tiles of the data portion is recognized as orange(Pantone™ 485C) color tiles. Blue (Pantone™ 2925C) color tiles of thedata portion is recognized as blue (Pantone™ 285C) color tiles. Red(Pantone™ 485C) color tiles of the data portion is recognized as red(Pantone™ 485C) color tiles. In other words, by relating step, the colorof the scanned color barcode may be amended on the basis of thereference color information.

After the relating step, according to the result of the relating step,the Pantone™ colors used for printing the color barcode are decided.Then, according to the decided colors, the color barcode 1 comprisingthe color reference portion 2 and the data portion 3 is printed on thepaper by a printing portion 13, which is the printing device, of thecolor multifunction printer 10 so as that the color of the referencecolor tile 21 accords with the color of the reference color informationand the color of the color tiles 31 also accords with the color of thereference color information.

In this example, the scanned color barcode includes the reference colortiles and the color tiles of red (Pantone™ 485C), purple (Pantone™512C), blue (Pantone™ 2925C), green (Pantone™ 340C), yellow (Pantone™102C), and pink (Pantone™ 672C). As a result of reproducing, the colorbarcode including the reference color tiles and the color tiles of red(Pantone™ 485C), orange (Pantone™ 715C), blue (Pantone™ 285C), green(Pantone™ 340C), yellow (Pantone™ 102C) and pink (Pantone™ 672C) isprinted. Orange (Pantone™ 715C) and blue (Pantone™ 285C) are printed inthe reference color tiles and the color tiles corresponding to thereference color tiles and the color tiles of which color is purple(Pantone™ 512C) and blue (Pantone™ 2925C) in the scanned original colorbarcode.

By doing such, integrity and authenticity of the color barcode can bemaintained even if the color barcode is copied or reprinted.

The color barcode may be affixed not only to the paper, but also to thedigital data of the document or the picture as the digital data of thecolor barcode.

Incidentally, in the case that the color reference portion is locatedfar from the data portion, the data portion or other portion of thecolor barcode which is located near the data portion may includeinformation about where the color reference portion is. In this case,the method for reproducing the color barcode further comprisesretrieving step which retrieves the data by decrypting the scanned dataportion or the scanned other portion.

In the retrieving step, a data of the data portion or the other portionis extracted from the scanned digital data. And the data of the dataportion or the other portion is decrypted by CPU 11 of the colormultifunction printer 10 as the retrieving device in order to obtain theinformation where the color reference portion is. For example, theinformation, which the color reference portion is at upper right of the1 page of the document. To decrypt, DES or RC$ etc. decryption methodmay be used. By this step, the information about where the colorreference portion is can be retrieved.

Next, according to the information where the color reference portion is,the color reference portion at the upper right of the 1 page of thedocument is extracted from the scanned digital data and is obtained.This extraction is included in the scanning step for the color referenceportion.

That is to say, in this case, the scanning step for the color referenceportion is conducted after the completion of the scanning step for thedata portion or the other portion and retrieving step for the dataportion or the other portion.

Instead of or in addition to the information about where the colorreference portion is, the information about what shape or pattern thecolor reference portion is may be recorded in the data portion or theother portion and used.

Incidentally, the data portion or the other portion of the color barcodemay include information about how the color reference portion is used.In the retrieving step for the data portion or the other portion, theinformation about how the color reference portion is used is retrieved.For example, in the case that several identical color reference portionsare located at four corners of 1 page of a document, the informationabout how the color reference portion is used may include theinformation that the average of the four color values of the referencecolor tiles of four color reference portion can be used as the colorvalue of the reference color tiles. And the relating step is conductedon the basis of the average of color value of the four color referenceportion.

And, the relating step is conducted on the basis of the informationabout how the color reference portion is used.

Example 2-2

Next, the other example of an apparatus and a method for reproducing thecolor barcode will be explained as follows.

The color barcode reproducing apparatus of this example is almostsimilar with the color barcode reproducing apparatus of Example 2-1. Thedescription about what is similar to the Example 2-1 is omitted.

In this example, the reference color information includes informationabout where the color reference portion should be located, what colorsshould be filled in the reference color tiles and a permissible range ofeach color of the reference color tiles of the scanned color referenceportion. Instead of or in addition to information about where the colorreference portion should be located, information about what shape orpattern the color reference portion should be may be included in thereference color information.

The permissible range may be defined by a range of brightness of coloror a range of chroma saturation etc., or several specific values ofdefined color value.

For example, the reference color information includes information, whichthe color reference portion is located at 5 mm above the data portion atright down of the document and red (Pantone™ 485C), orange (Pantone™715C), blue (Pantone™ 285C) green (Pantone™ 340C), yellow (Pantone™102C) and pink (Pantone™ 672C) are used for the reference color tilesand the color tiles and a permissible range of each color of thereference color tile. However, difference from Example 2-1, thereference color information does not include information about whatreference color tile should be filled with what color. In this example,the permissible range for red are Pantone™ 484C, Pantone™ 486C, Pantone™1788C, Pantone™ 1795C, Pantone™ 1797C, Pantone™ 186C, Pantone™ 193C,Pantone™ 1935C. The permissible range for each color is described inTable 2. Such permissible range is recorded in the memory 15 beforehand.

TABLE 2 Color of the reference color information Permissible range redPantone ™ 485C, Pantone ™ 484C, Pantone ™ 486C, Pantone ™ (Pantone ™485C) 1788C, Pantone ™ 1795C, Pantone ™ 1797C, Pantone ™ 186C, Pantone ™193C, Pantone ™ 1935C. orange Pantone ™ 715C, Pantone ™ 713C, Pantone ™714C, Pantone ™ (Pantone ™ 715C) 716C, Pantone ™ 717C, Pantone ™ 718C,Pantone ™ 7408C, Pantone ™ 7409C, Pantone ™ 021C. blue Pantone ™ 285C,Pantone ™ 284C, Pantone ™ 286C, Pantone ™ (Pantone ™ 285C) 2925C,Pantone ™ 2935C, Pantone ™ 2945C, Pantone ™ 299C, Pantone ™ 300C,Pantone ™ 301C. green Pantone ™ 340C, Pantone ™ 339C, Pantone ™ 341C,Pantone ™ (Pantone ™ 340C) 3395C, Pantone ™ 3405C, Pantone ™ 3415C,Pantone ™ 347C, Pantone ™ 348C, Pantone ™ 354C. yellow Pantone ™ 102C,Pantone ™ 100C, Pantone ™ 101C, Pantone ™ (Pantone ™ 102C) 102C,Pantone ™ 106C, Pantone ™ 107C, Pantone ™ 108C, Pantone ™ 113C,Pantone ™ 114C. pink Pantone ™ 672C, Pantone ™ 670C, Pantone ™ 671C,Pantone ™ (Pantone ™ 672C) 673C, Pantone ™ 674C, Pantone ™ 678C,Pantone ™ 679C, Pantone ™ 680C, Pantone ™ 686C.

In a method for reproducing a color barcode of this example, each colorof the reference color information stored is related to each color ofthe color of the reference color tile of the scanned color referenceportion on the basis of a result of an analysis whether each of thecolors of the color reference tiles is within the permissible range ornot.

In this relating step, the color reference portion is extracted by CPU11 from the data of the scanned document according to the informationwhere the color reference portion should be located. Then, the extractedcolor reference portion is analyzed by CPU 11.

For example, as a result of analyzing the color reference portion by CPU11, it is recognized that there are six reference color tiles in thecolor reference portion and the color of leftmost scanned referencecolor tile is orange (Pantone™ 7408C), the color of next right scannedreference color tile is green (Pantone™ 3405C), the color of next rightscanned reference color tile is blue (Pantone™ 2925C), the color of nextright scanned reference color tile is red (Pantone™ 484C), the color ofnext right scanned reference color tile is pink (Pantone™ 672C) and thecolor of rightmost scanned reference color tile is yellow (Pantone™107C).

Next, each color of the reference color information stored in the memory15 is related to each color of the reference color tile of the scannedcolor reference portion on the basis of a result of an analysis whethereach of the color of the scanned color reference tiles is within thepermissible range or not.

For example, as a result of the relating step, CPU 11 recognizes thatthe orange (Pantone™ 7408C) of the scanned reference color tile iswithin the permissible range of orange as described in Table 2.Therefore, the orange (Pantone™ 715C) of the reference color informationstored is related to the orange (Pantone™ 7408C) of the scannedreference color tile. The green (Pantone™ 3405C) of the scannedreference color tile is within the permissible range of green asdescribed in Table 2. Therefore, the green (Pantone™ 340C) of thereference color information stored is related to the green (Pantone™3405C) of the scanned reference color tiles.

As stated the above, the relating step is repeated. The result of therelating step is shown in Table 3.

TABLE 3 Location of the The color of the The color of the referencecolor reference color scanned reference No. tile information color tile1 Leftmost orange (Pantone ™ 715C) orange (Pantone ™ 7408C) 2 Next rightto 1 green (Pantone ™ 340C) green (Pantone ™ 3405C) 3 Next right to 2blue (Pantone ™ 285C) blue (Pantone ™ 2925C) 4 Next right to 3 red(Pantone ™ 485C) red (Pantone ™ 484C) 5 Next right to 4 pink (Pantone ™672C) pink (Pantone ™ 672C) 6 Rightmost yellow (Pantone ™ 102C) yellow(Pantone ™ 107C)

If as a result of the relating step, CPU 11 recognizes that certaincolor of the scanned reference color tile is not within any permissiblerange of the reference color information, the relating step cannot becompleted. In such case, a LCD display 14 of the color multifunctionprinter 10 displays warning message such as “this color barcode cannotbe reproduced.”

As a result of relating step, each color of the scanned reference colortiles 21 is recognized by CPU 11 as each color of the reference colorinformation. That is to say, orange (Pantone™ 7408C) of the scannedreference color tile is recognized as orange (Pantone™ 715C).

The color of the color tiles of the data portion is recognized on thebasis of the result of the relating step. That is to say, scanned orange(Pantone™ 7408C) color tiles of the data portion is recognized as orange(Pantone™ 715C) color tiles. In other words, by relating step, the colorof the scanned color barcode may be amended on the basis of thereference color information.

In this example, the scanned color barcode includes the reference colortiles and color tiles of orange (Pantone™ 7408C), green (Pantone™3405C), blue (Pantone™ 2925C), red (Pantone™ 484C), pink (Pantone™ 672C)and yellow (Pantone™ 107C). As a result of reproducing, the colorbarcode including the reference color tiles and the color tiles oforange (Pantone™ 715C), green (Pantone™ 340C), blue (Pantone™ 285C), red(Pantone™ 485C), pink (Pantone™ 672C) and yellow (Pantone™ 102C) isprinted.

Example 3-1

The color barcode produced or reproduced by the way shown in theexamples 1-1, 1-2, 2-1 and 2-2 is read in order to obtain a data formthe color barcode. In the following, the example of an apparatus and amethod for reading the color barcode will be explained.

A color barcode reading apparatus comprises a reference colorinformation storing device, a scanning device, a relating device and aretrieving device.

As such color barcode reading apparatus, a color barcode reader, a colorcopying machine or a color multi function printer including copyingfunction may be used. In such embodiment, all of the reference colorinformation storing device, the scanning device, the relating device andthe retrieving device are contained in one unit.

On the other hand, as such color barcode reading apparatus, a systemincluding several units connected with each other with or without wire,such as a system including a personal computer and an image scannerwhich are apart and are connected with each other, may be used.

Next, each element of the color barcode reading apparatus is explainedas follows.

The scanning device scans the color reference portion of the colorbarcode and the data portion of the color barcode. As the scanningdevice, in the case that the color barcode reproducing apparatus is thecolor barcode reader, the color copying machine or the color multifunction printer, a scanning portion of the color barcode reader, thecolor copying machine or the multi function color printer may becomprised. As the scanning device, in the case that the color barcodereproducing apparatus is a system including a computer and an imagescanner apart, an image scanner such as a flat bed scanner may becomprised.

The reference color information storing device stores a reference colorinformation beforehand.

The reference color information includes information about what colorsshould be filled in reference color tiles of the color referenceportion. The information about what colors should be filled in referencecolor tiles may be expressed with defined color value, such as Pantone™color, LAB value (La*b* value or Lab value), HSV and so on.

In this example, the reference color information includes informationabout where each of the reference color tiles should be located and whatcolor should be filled in each of the reference color tiles. Forexample, the reference color information includes information, which sixreference color tiles are aligned at 5 mm above the data portion atright down of the document and the color of leftmost reference colortile is red (Pantone™ 485C), the color of next right reference colortile is orange (Pantone™ 715C), the color of next right reference colortile is blue (Pantone™ 285C), the color of next right reference colortile is green (Pantone™ 340C), the color of next right reference colortile is yellow (Pantone™ 102C) and the color of rightmost referencecolor tile is pink (Pantone™ 672C).

As the reference color information storing device, in the case that thecolor barcode reading apparatus is a color barcode reader, a colorcopying machine or a color multifunction printer, a memory or a harddisk or an external and/or a removable information storing device, suchas a CD and/or DVD-ROM and the reproducing device for them of the colorbarcode reader, the color copying machine or the color multifunctionprinter may be comprised. As the reference color information storingdevice, in the case that the color barcode reading apparatus is a systemincluding a computer and an image scanner apart, a memory, a hard diskof the computer, or an external and/or a removable information storingdevice, such as a CD and/or DVD-ROM and the reproducing device for themof the computer may be comprised.

The relating device relates each color of the reference colorinformation stored in the reference color information storing device toeach color of the reference color tile of the color reference portionscanned by the scanning device. As the relating device, in the case thatthe color barcode reading apparatus is the color barcode reader, thecolor copying machine or the color multi function printer, an IC or aCPU of the color barcode reader, the color copying machine or the colormulti function printer may be comprised, if necessary in combinationwith a software. As the relating device, in the case that the colorbarcode reading apparatus is a system including a computer and an imagescanner apart, an IC or a CPU of the computer or the image scanner maybe comprised, if necessary in combination with a software.

The retrieving device retrieves the data by decrypting the scanned dataportion according to the results of the relating device. As theretrieving device, in the case that the color barcode reading apparatusis the color barcode reader, the color copying machine or the colormulti function printer, an IC or a CPU of the color barcode reader, thecolor copying machine or the color multi function printer maybecomprised, if necessary in combination with a software. As theretrieving device, in the case that the color barcode reading apparatusis a system including a computer or the image scanner may be comprised,if necessary in combination with a software.

The color barcode reading apparatus may further comprise a color barcodedata storing device which stores a data of the color barcode scanned bythe scanning device, a data obtained from a result of the relating stepby the relating device or a data obtained from a result of theretrieving step by the retrieving device. As the color barcode datastoring device, in the case that the color barcode reading apparatus isthe color barcode reader, the color copying machine or the color multifunction printer, a memory of the color barcode reader, the colorcopying machine or the multi function color printer may be comprised. Asthe color barcode data storing device, in the case that the colorbarcode reading apparatus is a system including a computer, an imagescanner and a color printer apart, a memory of the computer or the colorprinter, a hard disk of the computer, or a external and/or a removableinformation storing device, such as a CD and/or DVD-ROM and thereproducing device for them of the computer may be comprised.

Using the color barcode reading apparatus of this example, the colorbarcode is reproduced as follows.

A method for reading a color barcode comprises a storing step whichstores the reference color information, a scanning step which scans thecolor reference portion including the reference color tiles, a relatingstep which relates each color of the reference color information storedto each color of the reference color tile of the scanned color referenceportion, a scanning step which scans the data portion and a retrievingstep which retrieves the data by decrypting the scanned data portionaccording to the result of the relating step and the scanning step ofthe color reference portion and the data portion.

In this example, the reference color information includes informationabout where each of the reference color tiles should be located and whatcolor should be filled in each of the reference color tiles. In therelating step, each color of the reference color information stored isrelated to each color of the reference color tile of the scanned colorreference portion on the basis of the information about where each ofthe reference color tiles should be located and what color should befilled in each of the reference color tiles.

In the following, the detailed description of one of examples of theabove method will be explained, referring to FIG. 4.

In FIG. 4, a color barcode reader 20 is shown as the color barcodereading apparatus for the above method.

In advance, the reference color information is stored in a memory 24 asthe reference color information storing device. In this example, thereference color information includes information, which six referencecolor tiles are aligned at 5 mm above the data portion at right down ofthe document and the color of leftmost reference color tile is red(Pantone™ 485C), the color of next right reference color tile is orange(Pantone™ 715C), the color of next right reference color tile is blue(Pantone™ 285C), the color of next right reference color tile is green(Pantone™ 340C), the color of next right reference color tile is yellow(Pantone™ 102C) and the color of rightmost reference color tile is pink(Pantone™ 672C).

A paper, a sheet, a document or a book etc. affixing the color barcode 1comprising the color reference portion 2 comprising six reference colortiles 21 and the data portion 3 comprising several color tiles 31 isscanned by the scanning portion 22, which is the scanning device, of thecolor barcode reader 20 and the color barcode is changed into a digitaldata. Alternatively, to get a digital data of the color barcode, somedigital data, such as a data recorded in CD-ROM, DVD-ROM or a hard diskor a digital data sent via a network, may be read by a computer (notdisclosed in FIG. 4) connected with the color barcode reader 20 and sentfrom the computer to the color barcode reader 20. As stated in theabove, usually the color information portion scanning step and the dataportion scanning step is done simultaneously.

Next, in the relating step, data of each of the reference color tile 21is extracted from the data of the scanned document and each color usedin the reference color tiles 21 is retrieved and analyzed. For example,as a result of analyzing scanned reference color tiles 21 by CPU 25, itis recognized that the color of leftmost scanned reference color tile isred (Pantone™ 485C), the color of next right scanned reference colortile is purple (Pantone™ 512C), the color of next right scannedreference color tile is blue (Pantone™ 2925C), the color of next rightscanned reference color tile is green (Pantone™ 340C), the color of nextright scanned reference color tile is yellow (Pantone™ 102C) and thecolor of rightmost scanned reference color tile is pink (Pantone™ 672C).

Each color of the reference color information stored is related by CPU25 as the relating device to each color of the reference color tile 21of the scanned color reference portion 2 on the basis of the informationabout where each of the reference color tiles should be located and whatcolor should be filled in each of the reference color tiles.

The color of the reference color information stored in the memory 24 forthe leftmost reference color tile is red (Pantone™ 485C). And the colorof the scanned leftmost reference color tile is red (Pantone™ 485C).Therefore, the red (Pantone™ 485C) of the reference color information isrelated to the red (Pantone™ 485C) of the scanned reference color tileby CPU 11. Next, the color of the reference color information stored inthe memory 24 for the next right reference color tile is orange(Pantone™ 715C). And the color of the scanned next right reference colortile is purple (Pantone™ 512C). Therefore, the orange (Pantone™ 715C) ofthe reference color information is related to the purple (Pantone™ 512C)of the scanned reference color tile by CPU 11 even though the orange andpurple are different color. As stated the above, the relating step isrepeated. The result of the relating step is as described in Table 4.The result of the relating step is recorded in the memory 24.

TABLE 4 Location of the The color of the The color of the referencecolor reference color scanned reference No. tile information color tile1 Leftmost red (Pantone ™ 485C) red (Pantone ™ 485C) 2 Next right to 1orange (Pantone ™ 485C) purple (Pantone ™ 512C) 3 Next right to 2 blue(Pantone ™ 285C) blue (Pantone ™ 2925C) 4 Next right to 3 Green(Pantone ™ 340C) green (Pantone ™ 340C) 5 Next right to 4 yellow(Pantone ™ 102C) yellow (Pantone ™ 102C) 6 Rightmost pink (Pantone ™672C) pink (Pantone ™ 672C)

As a result of the relating step, each color of the scanned a referencecolor tiles is recognized by CPU 25 as each color of the reference colorinformation stored in the memory 24. That is to say, purple (Pantone™512C) of the scanned reference color tile is recognized as orange(Pantone™ 485C). Blue (Pantone™ 2925C) of the scanned reference colortile is recognized as blue (Pantone™ 285C).

The color of the color tiles of the data portion is recognized on thebasis of the result of the relating step. That is to say, scanned purple(Pantone™ 512C) color tiles of the data portion is recognized as orange(Pantone™ 485C) color tiles. Blue (Pantone™ 2925C) color tiles of thedata portion is recognized as blue (Pantone™ 285C) color tiles. Red(Pantone™ 485C) color tiles of the data portion is recognized as red(Pantone™ 485C) color tiles. In other words, by relating step, the colorof the scanned color barcode may be amended on the basis of thereference color information.

Then, the data of the data portion is retrieved by decrypting thescanned data portion according to the result of the relating step by CPU25 as the retrieving device in order to obtain data recorded in the dataportion. In this retrieving step, the colors of the data portion ofprinted color barcode are regarded as the Pantone™ colors represented bythe reference color information according to the result of the relatingstep. To decrypt, DES or RC4 etc. decryption method may be used. Theretrieved data may be stored in a memory 24 as the color barcode datastoring device.

In this example, the scanned color barcode includes the reference colortiles and the color tiles of red (Pantone™ 485C), purple (Pantone™512C), blue (Pantone™ 2925C), green (Pantone™ 340C), yellow (Pantone™102C) and pink (Pantone™ 672C). As a result of reading, the colorbarcode is regarded as the color barcode including the reference colortiles and the color tiles of red (Pantone™ 485C), orange (Pantone™715C), blue (Pantone™ 285C), green (Pantone™ 340C), yellow (Pantone™102C) and pink (Pantone™ 672C).

By doing such, integrity and authenticity of the color barcode can bemaintained even if the color barcode is copied or reprinted.

Incidentally, in the case that the color reference portion is locatedfar from the data portion, the data portion or other portion of thecolor barcode which is located near the data portion may includeinformation about where the color reference portion is.

In the retrieving step, a data of the data portion or the other portionis extracted from the scanned digital data. And the data of the dataportion or the other portion is decrypted by CPU 25 as the retrievingdevice of the color barcode reader 20 in order to obtain the informationwhere the color reference portion is. For example, the information,which the color reference portion is at upper right of the 1 page of thedocument. To decrypt, DES or RC$ etc. decryption method may be used. Bythis step, the information about where the color reference portion iscan be retrieved.

Next, according to the information where the color reference portion is,the color reference portion at the upper right of the 1 page of thedocument is extracted from the scanned digital data and is obtained.This extraction is included in the scanning step for the color referenceportion.

That is to say, in this case, the scanning step for the color referenceportion is conducted after the completion of the scanning step for thedata portion or the other portion and a part of the retrieving step forthe data portion or the other portion.

Instead of or in addition to the information about where the colorreference portion is, the information about what shape or pattern thecolor reference portion is may be recorded in the data portion or theother portion and used.

Incidentally, the data portion or the other portion of the color barcodemay include information about how the color reference portion is used.In the retrieving step for the data portion or the other portion, theinformation about how the color reference portion is used is retrieved.For example, in the case that several identical color reference portionsare located at four corners of 1 page of a document, the informationabout how the color reference portion is used may include theinformation that the average of the four color values of the referencecolor tiles of four color reference portion can be used as the colorvalue of the reference color tiles. And the relating step is conductedon the basis of the average of color value of the four color referenceportion.

And, the relating step is conducted on the basis of the informationabout how the color reference portion is used.

On the other hand, the color barcode produced or reproduced by the wayof this invention may be read by the method including only scanning stepand retrieving step for the data portion without the relating step.

Example 3-2

Next, the other example of an apparatus and a method for reading thecolor barcode will be explained as follows.

The color barcode reading apparatus of this example is almost similarwith the color barcode reading apparatus of Example 3-1. The descriptionabout what is similar to the Example 3-1 is omitted.

In this example, the reference color information includes informationabout where the color reference portion should be located, what colorsshould be filled in the reference color tiles and a permissible range ofeach color of the reference color tiles of scanned color referenceportion. Instead of or in addition to information about where the colorreference portion should be located, information about what shape orpattern the color reference portion should be may be included in thereference color information.

The permissible range may be defined by a range of brightness of coloror a range of chroma saturation etc., or several specific values ofdefined color value.

For example, the reference color information includes information, whichthe color reference portion is located at 5 mm above the data portion atright down of the document and red (Pantone™ 485C), orange (Pantone™715C), blue (Pantone™ 285C), green (Pantone™ 340C), yellow (Pantone™102C) and pink (Pantone™ 672C) are used for the reference color tilesand the color tiles and a permissible range of each color of thereference color tile. However, different from Example 3-1, the referencecolor information does not include information about what should befilled with what color. In this example, the permissible range for redare Pantone™ 484C, Pantone™ 486C, Pantone™ 1788C, Pantone™ 1795C,Pantone™ 1797C, Pantone™ 186C, Pantone™ 193C, Pantone™ 1935C. Thepermissible range for each color is described in Table 5. Suchpermissible range is recorded in the memory 24 beforehand.

TABLE 5 Color of the reference color information Permissible range redPantone ™ 485C, Pantone ™ 484C, Pantone ™ 486C, Pantone ™ (Pantone ™485C) 1788C, Pantone ™ 1795C, Pantone ™ 1797C, Pantone ™ 186C, Pantone ™193C, Pantone ™ 1935C. orange Pantone ™ 715C, Pantone ™ 713C, Pantone ™714C, Pantone ™ (Pantone ™ 715C) 716C, Pantone ™ 717C, Pantone ™ 718C,Pantone ™ 7408C, Pantone ™ 7409C, Pantone ™ 021C. blue Pantone ™ 285C,Pantone ™ 284C, Pantone ™ 286C, Pantone ™ (Pantone ™ 285C) 2925C,Pantone ™ 2935C, Pantone ™ 2945C, Pantone ™ 299C, Pantone ™ 300C,Pantone ™ 301C. green Pantone ™ 340C, Pantone ™ 339C, Pantone ™ 341C,Pantone ™ (Pantone ™ 340C) 3395C, Pantone ™ 3405C, Pantone ™ 3415C,Pantone ™ 347C, Pantone ™ 348C, Pantone ™ 354C. yellow Pantone ™ 102C,Pantone ™ 100C, Pantone ™ 101C, Pantone ™ (Pantone ™ 102C) 102C,Pantone ™ 106C, Pantone ™ 107C, Pantone ™ 108C, Pantone ™ 113C,Pantone ™ 114C. pink Pantone ™ 672C, Pantone ™ 670C, Pantone ™ 671C,Pantone ™ (Pantone ™ 672C) 673C, Pantone ™ 674C, Pantone ™ 678C,Pantone ™ 679C, Pantone ™ 680C, Pantone ™ 686C.

In a method for reading a color barcode of this example, each color ofthe reference color information stored is related to each color of thecolor of the reference color tile of the scanned color reference portionon the basis of a result of an analysis whether each of the colors ofthe color reference tiles is within the permissible range or not.

In this relating step, the color reference portion is extracted by CPU25 from the data of the scanned document according to the informationwhere the color reference portion should be located. Then, the extractedcolor reference portion is analyzed by CPU 25.

For example, as a result of analyzing the color reference portion by CPU25, it is recognized that there are six reference color tiles in thecolor reference portion and the color of leftmost scanned referencecolor tile is orange (Pantone™ 7408C), the color of next right scannedreference color tile is green (Pantone™ 3405C), the color of next rightscanned reference color tile is blue (Pantone™ 2925C), the color of nextright scanned reference color tile is red (Pantone™ 484C), the color ofnext right scanned reference color tile is pink (Pantone™ 672C) and thecolor of rightmost scanned reference color tile is yellow (Pantone™107C).

Next, each color of the reference color information stored in the memory24 is related to each color of the reference color tile of the colorreference portion on the basis of a result of an analysis whether eachof the color of the scanned color reference tiles is within thepermissible range or not.

For example, as a result of the relating step, CPU 25 recognizes thatthe orange (Pantone™ 7408C) of the scanned reference color tile iswithin the permissible range of orange as described in Table 2.Therefore, the orange (Pantone™ 715C) of the reference color informationstored is related to the orange (Pantone™ 7408C) of the scannedreference color tile. The green (Pantone™ 3405C) of the scannedreference color tile is withing the permissible range of green asdescribed in Table 5. Therefore, the green (Pantone™ 3405C) of thereference color information stored is related to the green (Pantone™340C) of the scanned reference color tile.

As stated the above, the relating step is repeated. The result of therelating step is shown in Table 6.

TABLE 6 Location of the The color of the The color of the referencecolor reference color scanned reference No. tile information color tile1 Leftmost orange (Pantone ™ 715C) Orange (Pantone ™ 7408C) 2 Next rightto 1 green (Pantone ™ 340C) green (Pantone ™ 3405C) 3 Next right to 2blue (Pantone ™ 285C) blue (Pantone ™ 2925C) 4 Next right to 3 red(Pantone ™ 485C) red (Pantone ™ 484C) 5 Next right to 4 pink (Pantone ™672C) pink (Pantone ™ 672C) 6 Rightmost yellow (Pantone ™ 102C) yellow(Pantone ™ 107C)

If as a result of the relating step, CPU 25 recognizes that certaincolor of the scanned reference color tile is not within any permissiblerange of the reference color information, the relating step cannot becompleted. In such case, a LCD display 23 of the color barcode reader 20displays warning message such as “this color barcode cannot be read.”

As a result of relating step, each color of the scanned reference colortiles 21 is recognized by CPU 25 as each color of the reference colorinformation. That is to say, orange (Pantone™ 7408C) of the scannedreference color tile is recognized as orange (Pantone™ 715C).

The color of the color tiles of the data portion is recognized on thebasis of the result of the relating step. That is to say, scanned orange(Pantone™ 7408C) color tiles of the data portion is recognized as orange(Pantone™ 715C) color tiles. In other words, by relating step, the colorof the scanned color barcode may be amended on the basis of thereference color information.

In this example, the scanned color barcode includes the reference colortiles and color tiles of orange (Pantone™ 7408C), green (Pantone™3405C), blue (Pantone™ 2925C), red (Pantone™ 484C), pink (Pantone™ 672C)and yellow (Pantone™ 107C). As a result of reading, the color barcode isregarded as the color barcode including the reference color tiles andthe color tiles of orange (Pantone™ 715C), green (Pantone™ 340C), blue(Pantone™ 285C), red (Pantone™ 485C), pink (Pantone™ 672C) and yellow(Pantone™ 102C).

On the other hand, the color barcode produced or reproduced by the wayof this invention may be read by the method including only scanning stepand retrieving step for the data portion without the relating step.

Disclosed embodiments can be varied by a skilled person withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention.

1. A processor-implemented method for reading a color barcode,comprising: storing a reference color information including informationabout what colors should be filled in reference color tiles of a colorreference portion, the color reference portion being a part of the colorbarcode and comprising the reference color tiles filled with colorswhich are used in a data portion of the color barcode, scanning thecolor reference portion including the reference color tiles, relatingeach color of the reference color information stored to each color ofthe reference color tile of the scanned color reference portion,scanning the data portion, the data portion being a part of the colorbarcode, comprising the several color tiles in which colors filling inthe reference color tiles of the color reference portion are assigned,and representing data, and retrieving the data by decrypting the scanneddata portion according to the result of the relating step.
 2. The methodfor reading the color barcode of claim 1, wherein the reference colorinformation is stored as the data of Pantone™ color.
 3. The method forreading the color barcode of claim 1, wherein the color referenceportion is located near the data portion.
 4. The method for reading thecolor barcode of claim 1, wherein the color reference portion is locatedfar from the data portion.
 5. The method for reading the color barcodeof claim 1, wherein the reference color information includes informationabout where each of the reference color tiles should be located and whatcolor should be filled in each of the reference color tiles, and whereinin the relating step, each color of the reference color informationstored is related to each color of the reference color tile of thescanned color reference portion on the basis of the information aboutwhere each of the reference color tiles should be located and what colorshould be filled in each of the reference color tiles.
 6. The method forreading the color barcode of claim 1, wherein the reference colorinformation includes information about where the color reference portionshould be located, what colors should be filled in the reference colortiles and a permissible range of each color of the reference color tilesof the scanned color reference portion, and wherein in the relatingstep, each color of the reference color information stored is related toeach color of the reference color tile of the scanned color referenceportion on the basis of the information about where the color referenceportion should be located and a result of an analysis whether each ofthe color of the color reference tiles of the scanned color referenceportion is within the permissible range.
 7. The method for reading thecolor barcode of claim 1, further comprising retrieving the data bydecrypting the scanned data portion, wherein the data portion includesinformation about the location of the color reference portion, andwherein in the retrieving step, the information about the location ofthe color reference portion is retrieved, and wherein in the scanningstep for the color reference portion, the color reference portion isscanned on the basis of the color reference portion locationinformation.
 8. The method for reading the color barcode of claim 1,further comprising retrieving the data by decrypting the scanned dataportion, wherein the data portion includes information about how thecolor reference portion is used, and wherein in the retrieving step, theinformation about how the color reference portion is used is retrieved,and wherein in the relating step, each color of the reference colorinformation stored is related to each color of the reference color tileof the scanned color reference portion on the basis of the informationabout how the color reference portion is used.
 9. Aprocessor-implemented method for reproducing a color barcode,comprising: storing a reference color information including informationabout what colors should be filled in reference color tiles of a colorreference portion, the color reference portion being a part of the colorbarcode and comprising the reference color tiles filled with colorswhich are used in a data portion of the color barcode, scanning thecolor reference portion including the reference color tiles, relatingeach color of the reference color information stored to each color ofthe reference color tile of the scanned color reference portion,scanning the data portion, the data portion being a part of the colorbarcode, comprising the several color tiles in which colors filling inthe reference color tiles of the color reference portion are assigned,and representing data, and printing the color barcode comprising thecolor reference portion and the data portion with the colors accordingto the results of the relating step and the scanning step of the colorreference portion and the data portion.
 10. The method for reproducingthe color barcode of claim 9, wherein the reference color information isstored as the data of Pantone™ color.
 11. The method for reproducing thecolor barcode of claim 9, wherein the color reference portion is locatednear the data portion.
 12. The method for reproducing the color barcodeof claim 9, wherein the color reference portion is located far from thedata portion.
 13. The method for reproducing the color barcode of claim9, wherein the reference color information includes information aboutwhere each of the reference color tiles should be located and what colorshould be filled in each of the reference color tiles, and wherein inthe relating step, each color of the reference color information storedis related to each color of the reference color tile of the scannedcolor reference portion on the basis of the information about where eachof the reference color tiles should be located and what color should befilled in each of the reference color tiles.
 14. The method forreproducing the color barcode of claim 9, wherein the reference colorinformation includes information about where the color reference portionshould be located, what colors should be filled in the reference colortiles and a permissible range of each color of the reference color tilesof the scanned color reference portion, and wherein in the relatingstep, each color of the reference color information stored is related toeach color of the reference color tile of the scanned color referenceportion on the basis of the information about where the color referenceportion should be located and a result of an analysis whether each ofthe color of the color reference tiles of the scanned color referenceportion is within the permissible range.
 15. The method for reproducingthe color barcode of claim 9, further comprising retrieving the data bydecrypting the scanned data portion, wherein the data portion includesinformation about the location of the color reference portion, andwherein in the retrieving step, the information about the location ofthe color reference portion is retrieved, and wherein in the scanningstep for the color reference portion, the color reference portion isscanned on the basis of the the color reference portion is locationinformation.
 16. The method for reproducing the color barcode of claim9, further comprising retrieving the data by decrypting the scanned dataportion, wherein the data portion includes information about how thecolor reference portion is used, and wherein in the retrieving step, theinformation about how the color reference portion is used is retrieved,and wherein in the relating step, each color of the reference colorinformation stored is related to each color of the reference color tileof the scanned color reference portion on the basis of the informationabout how the color reference portion is used.
 17. A color barcodereading apparatus, comprising: a reference color information storingdevice which stores a reference color information comprising informationabout what colors should be filled in reference color tiles of a colorreference portion, the color reference portion being a part of the colorbarcode and including the reference color tiles filled with colors whichare used in a data portion of the color barcode, a scanning device whichscans the color reference portion and the data portion, the data portionbeing a part of the color barcode, comprising the several color tiles inwhich colors filling the reference color tiles of the color referenceportion are assigned and representing data, a relating device whichrelates each color of the reference color information stored in thereference color information storing device to each color of thereference color tile of the color reference portion scanned by thescanning device, and a retrieving device which retrieves the data bydecrypting the data portion scanned by the scanning device according tothe result of the relating device.
 18. A color barcode reproducingapparatus, comprising: a reference color information storing devicewhich stores a reference color information including information aboutwhat colors should be filled in reference color tiles of a colorreference portion, the color reference portion being a part of the colorbarcode and comprising the reference color tiles filled with colorswhich are used in a data portion of the color barcode, a scanning devicewhich scans the color reference portion and the data portion, the dataportion being a part of the color barcode, comprising the several colortiles in which colors filling the reference color tiles of the colorreference portion are assigned and representing data, a relating devicewhich relates each color of the reference color information stored inthe reference color information storing device to each color of thereference color tile of the color reference portion scanned by thescanning device, and a printing device which prints the color barcodecomprising the color reference portion and the data portion with thecolors according to the results of the relating device and the scanningdevice.